Process for making superconductors and their precursors
TECHNICAL FIELD AND RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 214,702 filed July 1, 1988, now abandoned and relates to a low temperature process for making rare earth-barium-copper oxide superconductors and their precursors. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Bednorz and Muller, Z. Phys. B64, 189 (1986), disclose a superconducting phase in the La-Ba-Cu-O system with a superconducting transition temperature of about 35K. The presence of this phase was subsequently confirmed by a number of investigators [see, for example, Rao and Ganguly, Current Science, 56, 47 (1987), Chu et al., Science, 235, 567 (1987), Chu et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., 58, 405 (1987), Cava et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., 58, 408 (1987), Bednorz et al., Europhys. Lett., 3, 379 (1987)]. The superconducting phase has been identified as the composition La 1-x  (Ba,Sr,Ca) x  O 4-y  with the tetragonal K 2  NiF 4  -type structure and with x typically about 0.15 and y indicating oxygen vacancies. 
     Wu et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., 58, 908 (1987), disclose a superconducting phase in the Y-Ba-Cu-O system with a superconducting transition temperature of about 90 K. The compounds investigated were prepared with nominal compositions (Y 1-x  Ba x ) 2  CuO 4-y  and x=0.4 by a solid-state reaction of appropriate amounts of Y 2  O 3 , BaCO 3  and CuO in a manner similar to that described in Chu et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., 58, 405 (1987). This reaction method comprised heating the oxides in a reduced oxygen atmosphere of 2×10 -5  bars (2 Pa) at 900° C. for 6 hours. The reacted mixture was pulverized and the heating step was repeated. The thoroughly reacted mixture was then pressed into 3/16 inch (0.5 cm) diameter cylinders for final sintering at 925° C. for 24 hours in the same reduced oxygen atmosphere. 
     Hundreds of other papers have since disclosed similar solid state reaction processes. Other papers have disclosed various solution and precipitation methods for preparing the reactants to be heated at temperatures of 800°-850° C. and above. 
     Hirano et al., Chemistry Letters, 665, (1988), disclose a process for producing Y-Ba-Cu-O superconductors by the partial hydrolysis of a solution of Ba metal, Y(O-iPr) 3  and Cu-acetylacetonate or Cu-alkoxides in 2-methoxy or 2-ethoxy ethanol. The solution was stirred in dry nitrogen and heated at 60° C. for 12 hours. The solution was then hydrolyzed by the slow addition of water diluted with solvent. Stirring and heating continued for several hours. Stirring continued while the solution was evaporated under vacuum at about 60° C. and an amorphous precursor powder was obtained. The powder was calcined in flowing oxygen at temperatures between 800° and 950° C. for up to 24 hours. The calcined powder was pressed and sintered in flowing oxygen at temperature up to 920° C. and then annealed at temperatures between 450° and 550° C. 
     It is highly desirable to form precursors that can be used to produce powders that have small size particles, i.e., generally sub-micron in size, and that can be pressed into desired shapes, sintered and converted to superconducting Y-Ba-Cu-O. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides a process for preparing a powder of the tetragonal phase having the formula MBa 2  Cu 3  O y , the orthorhombic phase having the formula MBa 2  Cu 3  O x  or a mixture thereof, wherein M is selected from the group consisting of Y, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu; y is from about 6.0 to about 6.5; x is from about 6.5 to about 7.0, said process consisting essentially of 
     (a) preparing an essentially carbon-free (less than 1 weight percent) precursor powder from an intimate mixture of M, Ba and Cu compounds, said Cu in said precursor powder having a valence of 1.6-2, with an atomic ratio of M:Ba:Cu of 1:2:3; 
     (b) heating the precursor in an inert gas, e.g. argon, nitrogen, at a temperature from about 650° C. to about 800° C. for a time sufficient (usually about 2 hours) to form a powder of essentially tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  ; and 
     (c) cooling said tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  powder in an inert or an oxygen-containing atmosphere, e.g. air, but preferably substantially pure oxygen. 
     It has been found that if the Cu in the Cu compound in the mixture of reactants has a valence of +1, i.e. less than 1.6, the mixtures of reactants must be heated at a temperature from about 200° C. to about 400° C. in an oxygen-containing atmosphere for from 1 to 4 hours to form the precursor used in step (b). 
     It should also be noted that the atomic ratio of M:Ba:Cu of 1:2:3 may not be sacrosanct. Slight variation due to the presence of impurities or weighing errors may still provide superconductive materials which, however, may not be single phase. 
     This invention provides a process for preparing a powder of the tetragonal phase having the formula MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  when said tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  powder of step (b) is cooled in step (c) to a temperature below about 350° C., preferably below 100° C., before changing the inert atmosphere to an oxygen-containing atmosphere. 
     This invention provides a process for preparing a powder of the orthorhombic phase having the formula MBa 2  Cu 3  O x  when said tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  powder of step (b) is cooled in step (c) to a temperature below 350° C. (to room temperature) but the inert atmosphere must be changed to an oxygen-containing atmosphere before the powder reaches a temperature of 350° C., preferably before it reaches below 400° C. The tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  powder can be maintained in this oxygen-containing atmosphere above 350° C. for a time sufficient to complete the transformation to the orthorhombic phase having the formula MBa 2  Cu 3  O x . 
     It is preferred to have said precursor powder prepared by a solution route, for example, by drying a solution, a suspension or a precipitate of M, Ba and Cu carbon-free salts such as nitrates or hyponitrites or by drying the oxides formed by the hydrolysis of M, Ba and Cu compounds dissolved in an organic solvent. 
     It is also preferred to have the oxygen-containing atmosphere be free of CO 2 . 
     The process of the present invention provides an especially fine powder comprising the tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  powder, the orthorhombic MBa 2  Cu 3  O x  powder, and the mixed tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  -orthorhombic MBa 2  Cu 3  O x  powders. 
     The tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  powder and the mixture of tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  and orthorhombic MBa 2  Cu 3  O x  powders can be converted to a powder of the orthorhombic phase having the formula MBa 2  Cu 3  O x  by heating the tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  powder or the mixture in an oxygen-containing atmosphere at a temperature from about 350° C. to about 800° C., preferably 350° C. to 600° C., and maintaining the powder in the oxygen-containing atmosphere while cooling but maintaining the temperature above 350° C. for a time sufficient to obtain the orthorhombic phase. 
     The tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  powder, the orthorhombic MBa 2  Cu 3  O x  powder or the mixed tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  -orthorhombic MBa 2  Cu 3  O x  powders can be pressed into a desired shape, sintered at a temperature from about 875° C. to about 950° C. in an oxygen-containing atmosphere, and maintained in an oxygen-containing atmosphere while cooling for a time sufficient to obtain a superconducting shaped product comprised of orthorhombic MBa 2  Cu 3  O x , wherein x is from about 6.5 to about 7.0, preferably from about 6.8 to about 7.0. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides a relatively low temperature process for preparing a powder of the tetragonal phase having the formula MBa 2  Cu 3  O y , the orthorhombic phase having the formula MBa 2  Cu 3  O x  or a mixture thereof, wherein M is selected from the group consisting of Y, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu; y is from about 6.0 to about 6.5; and x is from about 6.5 to about 7.0. This unique process makes it possible to produce a powder of orthorhombic superconducting phase MBa 2  Cu 3  O x , with x preferably from about 6.8 to about 7.0, with maximum process temperatures of 650° C. and a single heating. 
     The tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  powder, the orthorhombic MBa 2  Cu 3  O x  powder and the mixed tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  -orthorhombic MBa 2  Cu 3  O x  powder can all be produced by this process with primary particle size in the micron or sub-micron range. All of these powders are therefore very useful for producing sintered shaped superconducting articles which are dense since these small particles sinter better than those containing larger size particles typical of powders made using conventional higher temperature solid state reactions. The process of this invention is useful in producing other oxide powders for sintering and, in particular, in producing oxide powders that can be used to make other oxide superconductors such as those containing Bi. 
     The reactants used in the process of this invention must be of the type and form that will react at temperatures below 800° C. by this process to form tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y . It is necessary to avoid the use of BaCO 3  as a reactant in the process and to avoid the formation of BaCO 3  during the process since the presence of BaCO 3  necessitates reaction temperatures of at least about 900° C. While air can be used when an oxygen-containing atmosphere is required in the process of this invention, it is preferred to use an oxygen-containing atmosphere that is free of CO 2 . 
     The process of this invention uses an essentially carbon-free precursor powder containing an intimate mixture of M, Ba and Cu compounds with an atomic ratio of M:Ba:Cu of 1:2:3. As used herein, essentially carbon-free means that there is less than 1 wt % carbon in the precursor powder. The precursor powder must be an intimately mixed fine-particle powder in order to facilitate the low temperature solid state reaction that it undergoes during the process. A solution route for the preparation of the precursor powder yields an intimately mixed fine-particle powder and solution-derived precursor powders are preferred. 
     The precursor powder used in this invention can be prepared by drying a solution or suspension containing M, Ba and Cu compounds with an atomic ratio of M:Ba:Cu of 1:2:3. One method for preparing such precursor powder is to form a nitrate solution of M, Ba and Cu, for example, by simply mixing aqueous solutions of the three component nitrates. This solution can be dried directly by heating, by spray-drying, or by spray-freezing followed by freeze-drying. Alternatively, precipitation can be achieved and a suspension formed by increasing the pH of the solution. The suspension can then be dried as indicated above. Spray-drying or spray-freezing followed by freeze-drying are preferred since they provide a more intimately mixed powder. 
     Another method for preparing the precursor powder is to form an aqueous nitrate solution of M, Ba and Cu with an atomic ratio of M:Ba:Cu of 1:2:3, mix it with an excess of a hyponitrite solution such as sodium hyponitrite or sodium peroxide to form a precipitate containing essentially all of the M, Ba and Cu present in the original nitrate solution, and collect and dry the precipitate. 
     Still another method for preparing the precursor powder is to form a solution of M, Ba and Cu compounds with an atomic ratio of M:Ba:Cu of 1:2:3 in an organic solvent. Controlled hydrolysis results in the formation of oxides, or hydrous oxides, which when filtered, washed and dried serve as the precursor powder. Compounds suitable to form the solution must satisfy two criteria. They must be soluble in an organic solvent and they must react readily with water to produce metal oxide or metal hydroxide. The following list is not meant to be limiting but some of the types of compounds which meet these criteria and representative examples are metal alkyls such as Cu(CH 2  SiMe 3 ) and Y(CH 2  SiMe 3 ) 3 , metal cyclopentadienides such as Y(C 5  H 5 ) 3 , Ba(C 5  H 5 ) 2  and Ba(C 5  Me 5 ) 2 , metal acetylides such as Cu[C.tbd.CC(CH 3 ) 2  OMe], metal aryls such as Cu(mesityl), metal alkoxides such Cu(OCMe 3 ), Cu[OCH(CMe 3 ) 2  ], Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  OBu) 2 , Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  NEt 2 ) 2  , Y 5  O(OCHMe 2 ) 13 , Y(OCH 2  CH 2  OBu) 3 , Y(OCH 2  CH 2  NEt 2 ) 3 , Ba(OCHMe 2 ) 2 , Ba(OCH 2  CH 2  OBu) 2  and Ba(OCH 2  CH 2  NEt 2 ) 2 , metal aryloxides such Y[O-2,4,6-C 6  H 2  (CMe 3 ) 3  ] 3 , and metal amides such as Cu(NEt 2 ), Cu(NBu 2 ), Cu[N(SiMe 3 ) 2  ] and Y[N(SiMe 3 ) 2  ] 3 . 
     If the Cu in the Cu compound in the reactant mixture has a valence of +1, the mixture should be heated to a temperature from about 200° C. to about 400° C. in an oxygen-containing atmosphere for from 1 to 4 hours to form the precursor powder. Such treatment is typically sufficient to raise the valence of the Cu to the necessary range of 1.6 to 2. The valence of the Cu can be determined by iodimetric titration. If the valence is less than 1.6, it can be raised to the necessary range by heating the mixture for a longer time to a temperature from about 200° C. to about 400° C. in an oxygen-containing atmosphere to form the precursor powder. 
     The precursor powder is placed in an inert container or an inert tray, for example, on an alumina tray, and heated in an inert gas, such as argon or nitrogen, at a temperature from about 650° C. to about 800° for a time sufficient to form a powder comprised of tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y , wherein y is from about 6.0 to about 6.5. Two hours has proven to be sufficient time to form the tetragonal MBa 2  Cu3 3  O y  but longer times can be used. 
     The tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y , powder is then cooled in an inert or an oxygen-containing atmosphere. The nature of the final product depends on the cooling program. 
     When the tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  powder is cooled to a temperature below 350° C., preferably below 100° C., before changing the inert atmosphere to an oxygen-containing atmosphere, the product powder is tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  powder. 
     When the tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  powder is cooled to a temperature below 350° C. and the inert atmosphere is changed to an oxygen-containing atmosphere before the powder reaches a temperature of 350° C., and the tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  powder is maintained in this oxygen-containing atmosphere at a temperature above 350° C. for a sufficient time, the product powder can convert completely to the orthorhombic MBa 2  Cu 3  O x  powder. During the cooling step, the oxygen content of the material increases to give the desired MBa 2  Cu 3  O x  product. The additional oxygen which enters into the crystalline lattice of the material during this cooling step to form the desired product does so by diffusion. The rate at which oxygen enters the lattice is determined by a complex function of time, temperature, oxygen content of atmosphere, sample form, etc. Consequently, there are numerous combinations of these conditions that will result in the desired product. For example, the rate of oxygen uptake by the material at 500° C. is rapid, and the desired product can be obtained in less than an hour under these conditions when the sample is in the form of a loosely packed, fine particle powder. A convenient way to accomplish the conversion is to allow the powder to cool in the furnace to a temperature below 100° C. before it is removed. If the cooling has been carried out too rapidly to accomplish complete conversion, the powder can be reheated to a temperature above 350° C., from about 350° C. to about  800° C., preferably 350° C. to 600° C., in an oxygen-containing atmosphere and maintained at this temperature above 350° C. for a longer time sufficient to obtain the orthorhombic MBa 2  Cu 3  O x  phase. Other cooling programs generally result in mixed tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  -orthorhombic MBa 2  Cu 3  O x  powder. 
     As suggested above, the tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  powder or the mixed tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  -orthorhombic MBa 2  Cu 3  O x  powder can be converted to a powder of only the orthorhombic phase having the formula MBa 2  Cu 3  O x  by heating the tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  powder or the mixed tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  -orthorhombic MBa 2  Cu 3  O x  powder in an oxygen-containing atmosphere at a temperature from about 350° C. to about 800° C., preferably 350° C. to 600° C., and maintaining the powder in an oxygen-containing atmosphere while cooling for a time sufficient to obtain the orthorhombic phase. 
     These product powders, i.e., the tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  powder, the orthorhombic MBa 2  Cu 3  O x  powder and the mixed tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  -orthorhombic MBa 2  Cu 3  O x  powder, are typically composed of primary particles the majority of which are sub-micron in size as determined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. When prepared using an organic solvent, the sizes range from 0.02 to 0.2 micron; by using other methods, 0.1 to 3 microns. Any of these powders can be pressed into a desired shape, sintered at a temperature from about 875° C. to about 950° C. in an oxygen-containing atmosphere, and maintained in an oxygen-containing atmosphere while cooling for a time sufficient to obtain a superconducting dense shaped product comprised of orthorhombic MBa 2  Cu 3  O x , wherein x is from about 6.5 to about 7.0, preferably from about 6.8 to about 7.0. Well sintered shaped articles will take longer to form the desired product while cooling than will powders, and larger, well-sintered shaped articles may require many hours. 
     These product powders can be stored and then pressed and sintered when desired. However, they all display the same reactivity toward CO 2  and H 2  O as has been reported for the orthorhombic phase. Hence, appropriate precautions must be taken. 
     The presence of superconductivity can be determined by the Meissner effect, i.e., the exclusion of magnetic flux by a sample when in the superconducting state. This effect can be measured by the method described in an article by E. Polturak and B. Fisher in Physical Review B, 36, 5586 (1987). It is well known that particles with dimensions of the order of or less than the penetration depth do not exhibit flux exclusion. Particles of the powders of this invention are typically sub-micron and with estimates of the penetration depth of these materials of the same order of magnitude, i.e., 0.1-1.0 μm, at 77K, the absence or weakening of the Meissner effect for these particles is to be expected. Because of the temperature dependence of the penetration depth, a depressed value of Tc might also be anticipated. 
     The superconducting compositions of this invention can be used to conduct current extremely efficiently or to provide a magnetic field for magnetic imaging for medical purposes. Thus, by cooling the composition in the form of a wire or bar to a temperature below the superconducting transition temperature, by exposing the material to liquid nitrogen or liquid helium in a manner well known to those in this field, and initiating a flow of electrical current, one can obtain such flow without any electrical resistive losses. To provide exceptionally high magnetic fields with minimal power losses, the wire mentioned previously could be wound to form a coil which would be exposed to liquid helium or nitrogen before inducing any current into the coil. Magnetic fields provided by such coils can be used to levitate objects as large as railroad cars. These superconducting compositions are also useful in Josephson devices such as SQUIDS (superconducting quantum interference devices) and in instruments that are based on the Josephson effect such as high speed sampling circuits and voltage standards. 
     The copper alkoxides Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  OBu) 2  and Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  NEt 2 ) 2  used as Cu source compounds in the hydrolysis preparation of the precursor powder are novel compounds. They fall within the group of copper alkoxides with 2-substituted ethoxy groups, the 2-substituent being XR, where X is a heteroatom such as O, N, S or P and R is an alkyl group. These novel soluble alkoxide compounds of copper with copper in the oxidation state +2 have the formula Cu[(OCH 2  CH 2 )n OR] 2  where when n=1, R is an alkyl group of C4 or larger, and when n≧2 R is an alkyl group of C1 or larger; Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  NR 2 ) 2  where R is an alkyl group of C1 or larger; Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  SR) 2  where R is an alkyl group of C4 or larger, and Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  PR 2 ) 2  where R is a phenyl group, a substituted phenyl group or an alkyl group of C4 or larger. The alkyl group can be straight-chain or branched and the substituted phenyl can contain any non-acidic functional group. These alkoxides can be prepared by the methods shown in Examples 11-19. Preferred for use in the preparation of the precursor powder are Cu[(OCH 2  CH 2 ) n  OR] 2  and Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  NR 2 ) 2  because of their solubilities of more than 0.1 g/mL in toluene and in tetrahydrofuran (THF). Especially preferred is Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  NR 2 ) 2  because it is also volatile and can be prepared free of chloride. In addition to their use as copper sources in the preparation of the precursor powder, they are also useful for copper plating. 
     In the Examples describing the preparation and characterization of these alkoxides, the following procedures were followed. The THF and toluene used were dried by distillation from sodium benzophenone ketyl. All solvents were stored over activated zeolite 4A in a drybox. Solubilities in toluene and THF are reported as the weight of compound in 1.00 mL of a saturated solution and as mmol Cu/liter (M) for a saturated solution. Although all these alkoxides are very soluble in methylene chloride, qualitative solubilities could not be measured because of the high viscosity of the concentrated solutions. NMR spectra were recorded at 300 MHz and are reported in parts per million downfield of Me 4  Si. 
    
    
     EXAMPLES OF THE INVENTION 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     A Y/Ba/Cu hyponitrite precursor powder was prepared as follows. A Y-Ba-Cu nitrate solution was formed by mixing Y(NO 3 ) 3  ·6H 2  O (1.92 g, 5 mmole), Ba(NO 3 ) 2  (2.92 g, 11 mmole), Cu(NO 3 ) 2  ·3H 2  O (3.86 g, 16 mmole) and ice water (500 cc) in a 1 L Erlenmeyer flask using a Teflon®-coated stir bar. The solids almost completely dissolved upon stirring. The flask was kept in a wet ice bath. A solution of Na 2  N 2  O 2  (15 g, 142 mmole) in ice water (50 cc) was prepared in a 100 mL Erlenmeyer flask and this flask was also kept in a wet ice bath. The Y-Ba-Cu nitrate solution was stirred briskly as the Na 2  N 2  O 2  solution was added to it. A green precipitate formed immediately. The precipitate was collected by filtration, air dried for about fifteen minutes, and then dried under full vacuum (less than 0.1 mm Hg, i.e., less than 13 Pa) overnight to give 6.92 g of a fine, light green powder. Analyses for Y, Ba, Cu, and N were done and the following results obtained: 
     
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           Y    Ba         Cu     N                                       
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wt %         6.10   19.5       13.1 5.06                                  
Atomic ratio 1      2.07       3.00 5.26                                  
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     Within expermental error, a molecular formula of YBa 2  Cu 3  (N 2  O 2 ) 2  ·6(OH) a  O b  is consistent with the analytical results, &#34;a&#34; and &#34;b&#34; being undetermined but providing the desirable amount of oxygen in the final product. 
     A portion (0.31 g) of this precursor powder was spread in a thin layer in an alumina tray and fired at 700° C. in argon for 2 hours. The furnace was turned off and the sample allowed to cool in argon to below 100° C. before being removed from the furnace. The resulting powder was black and the yield was 0.19 g. An X-ray diffraction powder pattern of the material showed that the powder was predominantly tetragonal YBa 2  Cu 3  O y . There were also traces of BaCuO 2  and an unidentified phase. 
     EXAMPLE 2 
     A portion (0.83 g) of the precursor powder prepared in Example 1 was spread in a thin layer in an alumina tray and heated to 700° C. in argon. The temperature was maintained at 700° C. for 2 hours, after which it was lowered to 600° C. The atmosphere was then switched from argon to oxygen and the sample was held at 600° C. in oxygen for 2 hours. The furnace was turned off and the sample allowed to cool in oxygen to below 100° C. before being removed from the furnace. The resulting product was a black powder and the yield was 0.65 g. An X-ray diffraction powder pattern of the material showed that the product was orthorhombic YBa 2  Cu 3  O x  with a trace of BaCuO 2 . Magnetic flux exclusion measurements confirmed superconductivity and showed the sample to have a Tc onset of about 50 K. 
     EXAMPLE 3 
     A portion (0.18 g) of the precursor powder prepared in Example 1 was spread in a thin layer in an alumina tray and heated to 700° C. in argon. The temperature was maintained at 700° C. for about 15 hours, after which the furnace was turned off and the sample allowed to cool in argon to below 100° C. before being removed from the furnace. The resulting powder was black and the yield was 0.09 g. An X-ray diffraction powder pattern showed that the powder was single phase, tetragonal YBa 2  Cu 3  O y . 
     A portion (0.06 g) of this tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  powder was heated at 400° C. in oxygen for 2 hours, after which the furnace was turned off and the sample allowed to cool in oxygen to below 100° C. before being removed from the furnace. An X-ray diffraction powder pattern showed that the product was single phase, orthorhombic YBa 2  Cu 3  O x . Magnetic flux exclusion measurements confirmed superconductivity and showed the sample to have a Tc onset of about 82 K. 
     CONTROL A 
     Criticality of Inert Atmosphere in Step (b) 
     A portion (0.09 g) of the precursor powder prepared in Example 1 was spread in a thin layer in an alumina tray and heated to 700° C. in oxygen. The temperature was maintained at 700° C. for about 16 hours, after which the furnace was turned off and the sample allowed to cool in oxygen below 100° C. before being removed from the furnace. The resulting product was a black powder, and the yield was 0.05 g. An X-ray diffraction powder pattern showed that the product consisted of BaCuO 2 .5 as the major phase plus second phases of YBa 2  Cu 3  O x  and unidentified products. This result demonstrates that a direct low temperature (700° C.) decomposition of the hyponitrite precursor powder in an oxidizing atmosphere will not yield a substantially pure YBa 2  Cu 3  O x  phase. 
     EXAMPLE 4 
     A Y/Ba/Cu nitrate precursor powder was prepared as follows. Ba(NO 3 ) 2  (12.54 g, 0.048 moles) was dissolved in 150 mL of distilled water. Y(NO 3 ) 3  ·6H 2  O (9.22 g, 0.024 moles) was dissolved in about 20 mL of distilled water. These two solutions were added together. To this combined colorless solution was added a Cu(NO 3 ) 2  solution (57.186 g, 0.072 moles) which was prepared by dissolving 23.0 g of hydrated Cu(NO 3 ) 2  in 55 mL distilled water and analyzed by iodimetric titration as 8.0 wt % copper. The resulting solution was dark blue and the pH of the solution was 2.67. NH 4  OH was then added dropwise until the pH was increased to pH 6.5. Precipitation started as the pH reached about 3.3 and a light blue, fine suspension had formed when the pH reached 6.5. This suspension was then sprayed through an air atomization nozzle into a covered beaker containing liquid nitrogen. The nozzle, manufactured by Spraying Systems Co., Wheaton, Ill., was Model 9265-J-LUC fitted with fluid cap #2850-LUC, liquid orifice diameter of 0.028 in (0.7 mm) and air cap #70-LUC. The nozzle was pressurized by 20 psi (140 kPa) of air. The resulting slurry of liquid nitrogen and finely divided frozen powder was then freeze dried. The powder obtained was light blue and very fluffy. The yield was 33.9 g. An X-ray diffraction powder pattern of the material showed an unidentified crystalline phase(s). 
     A portion (0.71 g) of this freeze dried precursor powder was spread in a thin layer in an alumina tray and heated to 700° C. in argon. The temperature was maintained at 700° C. for 2  hours, after which the furnace was turned off and the sample allowed to cool in argon to below 100° C. before being removed from the furnace. The resulting powder was medium gray and the yield was 0.31 g. An X-ray diffraction powder pattern showed that the powder consisted of tetragonal YBa 2  Cu 3  O y  as the major phase with minor amounts of BaCuO 2 , CuO and YBa 3  Cu 2  O 7 . 
     EXAMPLE 5 
     A portion (0.35 g) of the precursor powder made in Example 4 was spread in a thin layer in an alumina tray and heated to 700° C. in argon. The temperature was maintained at 700° C. for 2 hours, after which the temperature was lowered to 600° C. The atmosphere was then switched from argon to oxygen and the sample was held at 600° C. in oxygen for 2 hours. The furnace was turned off and the sample allowed to cool below 100° C. in oxygen before being removed from the furnace. The resulting product was a black powder and the yield was 0.15 g. An X-ray diffraction powder pattern of the material showed that the product consisted of orthorhombic YBa 2  Cu 3  O x  as the major phase with minor amounts of BaCuO 2 , CuO and YBa 3  Cu 2  O 7 . Magnetic flux exclusion measurements confirmed superconductivity and showed the sample to have a Tc of about 66 K. 
     CONTROL B 
     A portion (1.08 g) of the precursor powder described in Example 4 was spread in a thin layer in an alumina tray and heated to 700° C. in oxygen. The temperature was maintained at 700° C. for about 16 hours, after which the furnace was turned off and the sample allowed to cool in oxygen to below 100° C. before being removed from the furnace. The resulting sample was greyish-black and an X-ray diffraction powder pattern showed that the product consisted of BaCuO 2 .5 as the major phase with minor amounts of CuO, Y 2  O 3  and an unidentified phase(s). This result demonstrates that a direct low temperature (700° C.) decomposition of the nitrate precursor powder in an oxidizing atmosphere will not yield the YBa 2  Cu 3  O x  phase. 
     EXAMPLE 6 
     A Y/Ba/Cu reactant powder was prepared by combining Y(OCHMe 2 ) 3  (0.532 g, 2.00 mmol), Ba(OCHMe 2 ) 2  (1.02 g, 4.00 mmol), and Cu(OCMe 3 ) (0.820 g, 6.00 mmol) in 15 ml of 95% tetrahydrofuran (THF)/5% isopropanol to give a clear solution. Hydrolysis was carried out by dropwise addition of this solution to a solution of degassed water (1.80 g, 100 mmol) in 10 ml of 95% THF/5% isopropanol. The mixture was refluxed under an argon atmosphere for 16 h, and filtered to give an orange solid. The solid was washed first with THF, then with ether, and dried under vacuum at 150° C. An X-ray diffraction powder pattern indicated the presence of Cu 2  O and unidentified phases of Y, Ba and possibly Cu. 
     A portion (0.19 g) of this reactant powder was spread in a thin layer in an alumina tray and heated to 300° C. for 2 hours in oxygen to increase the copper valence from the precursor powder. The atmosphere was then switched to argon and the temperature raised to 700° C. The temperature was maintained at 700° C. for 2 hours, after which the furnace was turned off and the sample allowed to cool in argon below 100° C. before being removed from the furnace. The resulting powder was black, and the yield was 0.17 g. An X-ray diffraction powder pattern showed that the powder consisted of tetragonal YBa 2  Cu 3  O y  as the major phase with trace amounts of Y 2  BaCuO 5 , BaCuO 2  and CuO. 
     A portion of this tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y , powder (0.14 g) was subsequently heated to 600° C. in oxygen. The temperature was maintained at 600° C. for 2 hours, after which the furnace was turned off and the sample allowed to cool in oxygen below 100° C. before being removed. The resulting powder was unchanged in appearance and the yield was 0.16 g. The X-ray diffraction powder pattern showed that the product consisted of orthorhombic YBa 2  Cu 3  O x  and trace amounts of Y 2  BaCuO 5  and CuO. 
     EXAMPLE 7 
     A Y/Ba/Cu precursor powder was prepared by combining Y(OCHMe 2 ) 3  (1.60 g, 6.00 mmol), Ba(OCHMe 2 ) 2  (3.06 g, 12.0 mmol) and Cu(NBu 2 ) (3.45 g, 18.0 mmol) in 50 ml of THF to give a clear solution. Hydrolysis was carried out by dropwise addition of this solution to a solution of degassed water (5.40 g, 300 mmol) in 40 ml of THF. The mixture was refluxed under an argon atmosphere for 16 hours, and filtered to give an orange solid. The solid was washed first with THF, then with ether, and dried under high vacuum at 100° C. An X-ray diffraction powder pattern indicated the presence of Cu 2  O and unidentified phases of Y, Ba and possibly Cu. 
     A portion (0.77 g) of this precursor powder was spread in a thin layer in an alumina tray and heated to 300° C. for 2 hours in oxygen to increase the copper valence above 1.0. The atmosphere was then switched to argon and the temperature raised to 650° C. The temperature was maintained at 650° C. for 12 hours, after which the furnace was turned off and the sample allowed to cool in argon below 100° C. before being removed from the furnace. The resulting powder was black and the yield was 0.65 g. An X-ray diffraction powder pattern showed that the powder was tetragonal YBa 2  Cu 3  O y  with a trace of BaCuO 2 . 
     A portion (0.35 g) of this tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  powder of the above product was subsequently heated to 400° C. in oxygen. The temperature was maintained at 400° C. for 14 hours, after which the furnace was turned off and the sample allowed to cool in oxygen to below 100° C. before being removed from the furnace. The resulting powder was black and the yield was 0.34 g. An X-ray diffraction powder pattern showed the product was comprised of orthorhombic YBa 2  Cu 3  O x  and a trace of BaCuO 2 . 
     Measurement down to 4 K. showed no signs of magnetic flux exclusion. The negative result may be attributable to the extremely fine particle size of the YBa 2  Cu 3  O x . For particles with radii equal to or less than the magnetic flux penetration depth, 1, there will be no flux exclusion. 1 is temperature dependent, although the nature of this dependence is not well defined. At 77 K., however, it is assumed that 1 may be as large as 0.5 μm. Scanning electron micrographs show that the primary particle size of this sample is less than 0.2 μm and, thus, the particles would not be expected to exclude flux. 
     There is expected to be an enhancement of the flux exclusion effect subsequent to particle growth which occurs at sintering temperatures. In order to demonstrate this effect, a portion of the orthorhombic, but non-flux excluding YBa 2  Cu 3  O x  described above was heated at 950° C. for 4 hours in oxygen. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the particles had grown to ˜1 μm. Magnetic flux exclusion measurements showed the sample to be superconducting with a Tc=92K. It was also discovered that annealing the orthorhombic, but non-flux excluding YBa 2  Cu 3  O x  at 600° C. in O 2  for 15 hours results in superconducting transition at 90 K. which was weak due to the limited growth of particles. 
     EXAMPLE 8 
     A Y/Ba/Cu precursor powder was prepared by stirring Ba metal (0.861 g, 6.27 mmol) in 25 ml of 2-butoxyethanol until hydrogen evolution was complete. Y(OCHMe 2 ) 3  (0.834 g, 3.13 mmol) was added, and the solution was heated to 120° C. and then cooled to 80° C. Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  OBu) 2  (2.80 g, 9.40 mmol) as prepared in Example 11 was added, and the hot solution was filtered. The 2-butoxyethanol was removed in vacuo, and the blue solid was redissolved in 35 ml of THF. The THF solution was added dropwise to a solution of water (2.82 g, 157 mmol) in 35 ml of THF. The mixture was refluxed under an argon atmosphere for 16 hours, and filtered to give a brown solid. The solid was washed first with THF, then with ether, and dried under high vacuum at 100° C. 
     A portion (0.30 g) of this precursor powder was spread in a thin layer on an alumina tray and heated to 700° C. for 2 hours in argon. The sample was then allowed to cool in argon below 100° C. before being removed from the furnace. The resulting powder was black and the yield was 0.26 g. An X-ray diffraction powder pattern showed that the powder was tetragonal YBa 2  Cu 3  O y  with a minor amount of an unidentified phase(s). 
     A portion (0.19 g) of this tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  powder was subsequently heated to 600° C. for 2 hours in oxygen, after which the furnace was turned off and the sample allowed to cool in oxygen to below 100° C. before being removed from the furnace. The resulting powder was black and the yield was 0.18 g. An X-ray diffraction powder pattern showed the product was comprised of orthorhombic YBa 2  Cu 3  O x  and trace amounts of CuO and BaCO 3  along with a minor amount of an unidentified phase. Magnetic flux exclusion measurements showed the sample to be superconducting with Tc=62 K. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the primary particles were in the range 0.5-3.0 μm. 
     EXAMPLE 9 
     A Y/Ba/Cu reactant powder was prepared by a procedure essentially identical to that used in Example 7, except that an equimolar amount of Cu(mesityl) was substituted for Cu(NBu 2 ), Cu having a valence of 1. 
     A portion (0.35 g) of the reactant powder was spread in a thin layer on an alumina tray and heated to 300° C. for 2 hours in oxygen to increase the copper valence and form the precursor powder. The atmosphere was then switched to argon and the temperature raised to 700° C. The temperature was maintained at 700° C. for 2 hours, after which the furnace was turned off and the sample allowed to cool in argon below 100° C. before being removed from the furnace. The resulting powder was black and the yield was 0.31 g. An X-ray diffraction powder pattern showed that the powder was tetragonal YBa 2  Cu 3  O y  with minor amounts of BaCuO 2  and Y 2  BaCuO 5 . 
     A portion (0.23 g) of the tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  powder was subsequently heated to 400° C. in oxygen. The temperature was maintained at 400° C. for 4 hours, after which the furnace was turned off and the sample allowed to cool in oxygen to below 100° C. before being removed from the furnace. The resulting powder was black and the yield was 0.22 g. An X-ray diffraction powder pattern showed that the product was orthorhombic YBa 2  Cu 3  O x  with trace amounts of BaCuO 2  and Y 2  BaCuO 5 . No magnetic flux exclusion was observed down to 4 K. This result may be attributed to fine particle size. 
     EXAMPLE 10 
     A Y/Ba/Cu precursor powder was prepared by stirring Ba metal (0.516 g, 3.76 mmol) in a solution of 15 ml of N,N-diethylethanolamine and 25 ml of toluene at 100° C. until hydrogen evolution was complete. Y(OCHMe 2 ) 3  (0.500 g, 1.88 mmol) was added and the solution was maintained at 100° C. for 10 minutes, and then cooled to room temperature. Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  NEt 2 ) 2  (1.67 g, 5.63 mmol) was added, and the solution was filtered. The solvents were removed in vacuo, and the purple oil was redissolved in 25 ml of THF. The THF solution was added dropwise to a solution of water (1.69 g, 93.3 mmol) in 25 ml of THF. The mixture was refluxed under an argon atmosphere for 16 hours, and filtered to give a brown solid. The solid was washed first with THF, then with ether, and dried under high vacuum at 100° C. 
     A portion (0.22 g) of this precursor powder was spread in a thin layer on an alumina tray and heated to 650° C. in argon. The temperature was maintained at 650° C. for about 15 hours, after which the furnace was turned off and the sample allowed to cool in argon below 100° C. before being removed from the furnace. The resulting powder was greyish-brown and the yield was 0.19 g. An X-ray diffraction powder pattern showed that the powder was tetragonal YBa 2  Cu 3  O y  along with minor amounts of BaCuO 2  and CuO. 
     A portion of the tetragonal MBa 2  Cu 3  O y  powder (0.08 g) was subsequently heated to 400° C. in oxygen. The temperature was maintained at 400° C. for 4 hours, after which the furnace was turned off and the sample allowed to cool in oxygen to below 100° C. before being removed from the furnace. The resulting powder was dark brown and the yield was 0.08 g. An X-ray diffraction powder pattern showed that the product was orthorhombic YBa 2  Cu 3  O x  with minor amounts of BaCuO 2  and CuO. 
     EXAMPLE 11 
     Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  OBu) 2  was prepared as follows. Cu(OMe) 2  (2.00 g, 15.9 mmol) was combined with 10 mL of 2-butoxyethanol and 40 mL of toluene, and heated to 100° C. for 15 minutes. The warm solution was filtered and the solvent removed in vacuo to give 4.21 g dark blue solid which was Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  OBu) 2 . The proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrum is characteristic of an antiferromagnetically coupled Cu(II) compound. The proton resonances are well resolved, featureless peaks. The CH 2  protons closest to the paramagetic Cu(II) have an unusually large chemical shift. The NMR results are: 1H NMR (C 6  D 6  300 MHz, ppm downfield of Me 4  Si): 2.45 (t,CH 3 ); 3.19 (s,CH 2 ); 5.94 (s,CH 2 ); 7.00 (s,CH 2 ); 109.1 (s,CH 2 ). 
     A solution of 0.050 g of Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  OBu) 2  in 1.0 mL of toluene was combined with a solution of 0.055 g freshly distilled cyclopentadiene (C 5  H 6 ). Within 30 minutes a metallic copper mirror had formed on the walls of the glass vial. 
     EXAMPLE 12 
     Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  NEt 2 ) 2  was prepared as follows. Cu(OMe) 2  (2.00 g, 15.9 mmol) was combined with 10 mL of N,N-diethylethanoloamine and 40 mL of toluene, and heated to 100° C. for 15 minutes. The warm solution was filtered and the solvents were removed in vacuo to give a solid. Sublimation of the crude product at 100° C. in high vacuum gave 2.86 g blue-green solid which was Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  NEt 2 ) 2 . This compound has an electron spin resonance spectrum typical of a monomeric Cu(II) complex. 
     A solution of Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  NEt 2 ) 2  in 1.0 mL of N,N-diethylethanolamine was combined with a solution of 0.05 g freshly distilled cyclopentadiene (C 5  H 6 ) in 1.0 mL of N,N-diethylethanolamine. After 16 hours a metallic copper mirror had formed on the walls of the glass vial. 
     EXAMPLE 13 
     Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  NEt 2 ) 2  was prepared as follows. Lithium metal wire [0.826 g, 119 mmol] was stirred in dry methanol until the reaction was complete to give a homogeneous solution of lithium methoxide. The solution was added dropwise to a solution of CuCl 2  [8.00 g, 59.5 mmol] in 250 mL of methanol. The mixture was stirred for 2 days and then filtered to give light blue solid Cu(OMe) 2 . The product was washed with MeOH until the filtrates showed no detectable chloride by reaction with AgBF 4  in THF, and dried briefly in vacuo. Cu(OMe) 2  was combined with 15.3 g of N,N-diethylethanolamine in 100 mL of toluene and heated to 100° C. for 15 minutes to give a homgeneous purple solution. The solvents were removed in vacuo and the resulting solid was sublimed at 100° C., 10 -3  torr to give a turquoise solid which was Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  NEt 2 ) 2 . The yield was 13.38 g (76%). The expected weight percentages of the component elements in this alkoxide calculated on the basis of the formula C 12  H 28  CuN 2  O 2  are: C, 48.71; H, 9.54; N, 9.47; Cu, 21.5. The weight percentages of the component elements found in two separate analyses of the product were: C, 48.54, 48.84; H, 9.46, 9.57; N, 9.60, 9.53; Cu, 21.4, 21.4; Cl, &lt;0.2. The melting point was found to be 126°-128° C. The electron spin resonance (ESR) results (2-methylpentane, 120 K.) are: g(parallel)=2.192, a&lt;Cu&gt;=158 G, g(perpendicular)=2.142. These results are consistent with monomeric Cu(II). 
     The solubility in THF is 0.268 g/mL (0.91M). The solubility in toluene is 0.248 g/mL (0.83M). 
     EXAMPLE 14 
     Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  NMe 2 ) 2  was prepared by the same procedure used in Example 13 to prepare Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  NEt 2 ) 2  except that dimethylethanol was used instead of N,N-diethylethanolamine. The yield was 52%. The expected weight percentages of the component elements in this alkoxide calculated on the basis of the formula C 8  H 20  CuN 2  O 2  are: C, 40.07; H, 8.41; N, 11.7; Cu, 26.5. The weight percentages of the component elements found in two separate analyses of the product were: C, 40.23, 40.25; H, 8.49, 8.57; N, 11.6, 11.6; Cu, 26.2, 25.9; Cl, &lt;0.2. The melting point was found to be 93°-94° C. 
     The solubility in THF and toluene is qualitatively similar to that of Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  NEt 2 ) 2 . 
     EXAMPLE 15 
     Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  OBu) 2  was prepared as follows. Cu(OMe) 2  [2.00 g, 15.9 mmol] prepared as described in Example 13 was combined with 2-butoxyethanol [4.52 g, 38.2 mmol] and 40 mL of toluene, and heated to 100° C. for 15 min. The warm solution was filtered and the solvents were remove in vacuo to a give a dark blue solid which was recrystallized by dissolving in a minimal amount of toluene, and cooling to -40° C. to produce Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  OBu) 2 . The yield was 3.10 g (65%). The expected weight percentages of the component elements in this alkoxide calculated on the basis of the formula C 12  H 26  CuO 4  are: C, 48.39; H, 8.80; Cu, 21.3. The weight percentages of the component elements found in two separate analyses of the product were: C, 47.11, 47.10; H, 7.75, 7.88; Cu, 21.7, 21.7; Cl, 0.64, 0.63. None of the samples of this compound was completely free of chloride. The expected weight percentages of the component elements in this alkoxide calculated on the basis of the formula CuC 10 .05 (OCH 2  CH 2  OBu) 1 .95 are: C, 47.81; H, 8.69; Cu, 21.6; Cl, 0.63. 
     The NMR results are (C 6  H 6 ): 1.582(s, CH 3 ); 2.450(s, CH 2 ); 3.182(s, CH 2 ); 5.936(s, CH 2 ); 6.40(s, CH 2 ); 109.12(s, CH 2 ). 
     The solubility in THF is 0.160 g/mL (0.54M). The solubility in toluene is 0.102 g/mL (0.34M). 
     EXAMPLE 16 
     Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  OCH 2  CHMe 2 ) 2  was prepared by the same procedure used in Example 15 to prepare Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  OBu) 2  except that 2-isobutoxyethanol was used instead of 2-butoxyethanol. The yield without recrystallization was 85%. The expected weight percentages of the component elements in this alkoxide calculated on the basis of the formula C 12  H 26  CuO 4  are: C, 48.39; H, 8.80; Cu, 21.3. The weight percentages of the component elements found in two separate analyses of the product were: C, 48.35, 48.37; H, 8.66, 8.70; Cu, 21.9, 22.0. 
     The solubility in THF and toluene is qualitatively similar to that of Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  OBu) 2 . 
     EXAMPLE 17 
     Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  OCH 2  CH 2  OEt) 2  was prepared by the same procedure used in Example 15 to prepare Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  OBu) 2  except that 2-ethoxyethoxylethanol was used instead of 2-butoxyethanol. The yield without recrystallization was 84%. The expected weight percentages of the component elements in this alkoxide calculated on the basis of the formula C 12  H 26  CuO 6  are: C, 43.69; H, 7.94; Cu, 19.3. The weight percentages of the component elements found in two separate analyses of the product were: C, 41.74, 41.51; H, 7.44, 7.44; Cu, 19.5, 19.6. The NMR results are (C 6  D 6 ): 1.67(t, 4.3H, CH 3 ); 4.16(q, 1.9H, CH 2 ); 5.12(s, 1.7H, CH 2 ); 6.35(s, CH 2 ); 6.84(s, CH 2 ). One CH 2  resonance is missing and presumably it is outside the normal chemical shift range (see 1H NMR of Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  OBu) 2  above). 
     The solubility in THF and toluene is qualitatively similar to that of Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  OBu) 2 . 
     EXAMPLE 18 
     Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  SBu) 2  was prepared by the same procedure used in Example 15 to prepare Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  OBu) 2  except that N-butylthiolethanol was used instead of 2-butoxyethanol. Following recrystallization from toluene, the dark blue solid Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  SBu) 2  product was obtained. The yield was 76%. The expected weight percentages of the component elements in this alkoxide calculated on the basis of the formula C 12  H 26  CuO 2  S 2  are: C, 43.68; H, 7.94; Cu, 19.3. The weight percentages of the component elements found in two separate analyses were: C, 43.90, 43.79; H, 7.90, 7.77; Cu, 19.0, 18.6; Cl, &lt;0.2. The solubility of Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  SBu) 2  in THF was 0.007 g/mL (0.02M). Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  SBu) 2  was essentially insoluble in toluene. It dissolves readily in methylene chloride. 
     EXAMPLE 19 
     Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  PPh 2 ) 2  was prepared as follows. Cu(OMe) 2  [0.100 g, 0.80 mmol] prepared as described in Example 13 was combined with Ph 2  PCH 2  CH 2  OH [0.403 g, 1.75 mmol] and 40 mL of toluene, and heated to 100° C. for 5 min. The warm solution was filtered and the solvents were removed in vacuo to a give a pale green solid which was recrystallized by dissolving in a minimal amount of ether, and cooling to -40° C. to produce Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  PPh 2 ) 2 . The yield was 0.233 g (56%). The expected weight percentages of the component elements in this alkoxide calculated on the basis of the formula C 28  H 28  CuO 2  P 2  are: C, 64.42; H, 5.41; Cu, 12.2; P, 11.9. The weight percentages of the component elements found in two separate analyses were: C, 64.42, 64.42; H, 5.52, 5.49 ; Cu, 10.7, 10.7; P, 12.3, 12.3; Cl, 0.42, 0.50. 
     Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  PPh 2 ) 2  has only slight solubility in THF or toluene. It dissolves readily in methylene chloride. 
     CONTROL C 
     Attempts to prepare a sample of Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  OEt 2 ) 2  by the same procedure used to produce Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  OBu) 2  in Example 15, except that 2-ethoxyethanol was used instead of 2-butoxyethanol, resulted in a product that was essentially completely insoluble in toluene, THF, and 2-ethoxyethanol. The compound was purified by dissolving it in CH 2  Cl 2 , filtering the solution, and removing the solvent in vacuo. The yield was 70%. The expected weight percentages of the component elements in this formula C 8  H 18  CuO 4  are: C, 39.74; H, 7.50; Cu, 26.3. The weight percentages of the component elements found in two separate analyses were: C, 37.83, 37.89; H, 7.22, 7.22; Cu, 27.1, 27.4. 
     A more soluble form of this compound was prepared by stirring Cu(OMe) 2  [1.50 g, 11.9 mmol] prepared as described in Example 13 in a mixture of 25 mL of 2-ethoxyethanol and 60 mL of toluene for 1 hour at room temperature. The mixture was filtered to remove an insoluble green gel, and the dark blue filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to give a blue solid which was now insoluble in toluene, 2-ethoxyethanol, or mixtures of the two. This product was recrystallized by dissolving in a minimal amount of THF and cooling the filtered solution to -40° C. The yield was 1.28 g (44%). The expected weight percentages of the component elements in this alkoxide calculated on the basis of the formula C 8  H 18  CuO 4  are: C, 39.74; H, 7.50; Cu, 26.3. The weight percentages of the component elements found in two separate analyses were: C, 39.27, 38.24; H, 7.70, 7.44; Cu, 26.3, 26.4; Cl, 0.46, 0.45. The expected weight percentages of the component elements in this alkoxide calculated on the basis of the formula CuC 10 .03 (OCH 2  CH 2  OEt) 1 .97 are: C, 39.41; H, 7.44; Cu, 26.5; Cl, 0.44. The solubility in THF is 0.074 g/mL (0.31M). The solubility in toluene is 0.007 g/mL (0.02M). It is essentially insoluble in 2-ethoxyethanol. 
     EXAMPLE 20 
     A Y/Ba/Cu precursor powder was prepared by combining Y(OCHMe 2 ) 3  (1.799 g, 6.76 mmol), Ba(OCHMe 2 ) 2  (3.454 g, 13.5 mmol), and Cu(OCH 2  CH 2  NEt 2 ) 2  (6.00 g, 20.3 mmol) in 80 mL of THF to give a clear solution. Hydrolysis was carried out by dropwise addition of this solution to a solution of degassed water (7.914 g, 439 mmol) in 80 mL of THF. The mixture was refluxed under an argon atmosphere for 16 hours, and filtered to give a dark brown solid. The solid was washed first with THF, then with pentane, and dried under high vacuum at 100° C. 
     Firing this precursor for 12 hours at 700° C. in flowing argon yielded a single phase, tetragonal YBa 2  Cu 3  O y  powder as determined by X-ray diffraction. This tetragonal powder was subsequently annealed at 400° C. in flowing oxygen for 12 hours. The X-ray diffraction powder pattern indicated that the oxidized powder was orthorhombic YBa 2  Cu 3  O x . The value of x was measured by iodimetric titration to be 6.86. 
     Subsequently it has been learned (see, e.g., D. C. Bradley, J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun. 1258, (1988) that the correct stoichiometry of the yttrium alkoxide is not Y(OCHMe 2 ) 3 , but rather Y 5  O(OCHMe 2 ) 13 . Preparation of the Y/Ba/Cu precusor powder using the proper stoichiometry for the alkoxide results in small improvements in the purity of the YBa 2  Cu 3  O y  and YBa 2  Cu 3  O x  products. 
     EXAMPLE 21 
     A Y/Ba/Cu precursor powder was prepared as follows. A Y-Ba-Cu nitrate solution was formed by mixing Y(NO 3 ) 3  ·6H 2  O (0.384 g, 1.0 mmole), Ba(NO 3 ) 2  (1.2 g, 4.5 mmol), Cu(NO 3 ) 2  ·3H 2  O (0.726 g, 3.0 mmole) and ice water (100 mL) in a 500 mL Erlenmeyer flask using a Teflon®-coated stir bar. The solids almost completely dissolved upon stirring. The flask was kept in a wet ice bath. A solution of Na 2  O 2  (2.18 g, 28 mmole) in ice water (100 mL) was prepared in a 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask and this flask was also kept in a wet ice bath. The Y-Ba-Cu nitrate solution was added to it. A dark green precipatate formed immediately. After about one minute of stirring, the precipitate was collected by centrifugation, in a chilled tube (5° to 10° C.), at 3,000 rpm for 12 minutes. The wet solids were dried under full vacuum (less than 0.1 mm Hg, i.e., less than 13 Pa) overnight to give 0.59 g of a fine light blue powder. Analyses for Y, Ba, and Cu were done and the following results obtained: 
     
         ______________________________________                                    
          Y          Ba     Cu                                            
______________________________________                                    
wt %        9.08         28.3   19.3                                      
Atomic ratio                                                              
            1            2.02   2.98                                      
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     A portion of precursor powder prepared essentially by this method was spread in a thin layer in an alumina tray and fired at 700° C. in argon for 12 hours. The resulting powder was black and an X-ray diffraction powder pattern of the material indicated that it consisted of tetragonal YBa 2  Cu 3  O y , along with trace amounts of Y 2  BaCuO 5  and BaCuO 2 .